Do you spend a lot of time in a sitting position for work or hobbies or do you train a lot in the gym? It used to be fine, but now you have frequent back and lower back pain? So maybe you should see a doctor for help? What are the causes of back pain? Which doctor should I go to and how to treat a sore? We will talk about this and much more later in the article.
What causes the pain?
So, "What to do if your back hurts and what can cause it? ", Let's take a closer look at this question. There may be more than enough reasons. The fact is that back pain and low back pain can signal a number of diseases, both of the spine itself and of the internal organs. This is due to the fact that many nerve endings that surround all internal organs depart from the spinal column. Therefore, based on the localization of pain in a particular area of the ridge, we can talk about some specific diseases.
Causes of the event
What do lower back pain say and which doctor should I contact with them? Both habits and illnesses can cause pain in the lower back. The first are:
- Permanent sedentary work. IT workers and drivers are at risk.
- Constant standing work.
- Frequent great physical activity. Athletes, especially weightlifters, are at risk.
- Sedentary lifestyle.
- A separate risk group includes pregnant women and women who have recently given birth.
- Overweight.
As you can see, everything is simple with habits. As for the second case, pain in the lower back can often be caused by diseases. Here you can also highlight diseases of the spine itself and diseases in which pain in the lumbar region is only a symptom. The former include osteochondrosis, spondyloarthrosis, intervertebral hernia and protrusion.
The second group contains the following possible causes of back pain:
- Trauma ridge fracture.
- A fracture caused by osteoporosis.
- A tumor located in the spinal canal.
- Prolonged muscle strain.
- The narrow structure of the spinal canal (quite rare).
- Various complications during pregnancy.
- Various types of arthritis such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis.
- Spinal deformity, e. g. kyphosis, scoliosis, Scheuermann-Mau disease, kyphoscoliosis.
- Spinal tuberculosis, osteomyelitis, discitis.
- Urolithiasis, pyelonephritis.
- Ovarian cancer, endometriosis, ovarian cyst.
When should you see a doctor?
A slight pain in the back, which passes quickly and which is the result of prolonged exertion, is the norm. But if the lower back hurts for quite a long time or the pain is periodic, then it arises by itself, then disappears, then it is worth raising the alarm. It is also necessary to go to the hospital immediately after a serious back injury. It should be understood that low back pain can be accompanied by pain in the foot or lower leg. Also, part of the leg or buttocks may become numb. In this case, you have something serious and should be examined as soon as possible.
It is unlikely that you yourself will diagnose yourself, so you should go to the hospital, but which doctor should you go to? Someone will tell a chiropractor and someone will say that a neurologist has more experience. Both options are correct, however, it will be more correct to turn to a neurologist, because it is he who will be able to correctly prescribe and conduct the entire course of the diagnosis of the disease. And in this case, the cause will be more accurately identified and there is every chance to successfully deal with it. So, taking the point of view of a neurologist, with pain in the lower back, based on the intensity and strength of the pain, you can approximately determine the cause of its occurrence.
sharp pains
Acute low back pain in men and women is the result of a recent injury (fall, muscle fatigue, shock, sudden movements). Also, the reason may be long-term work in an awkward position or prolonged carrying and lifting of heavy things. And finally, don't forget the cold in the back, due to hypothermia or prolonged exposure to a draft. Here you can easily treat low back pain with folk remedies.
Low back pain and displacement of the intervertebral discs can be distinguished separately from the common ones. The first ailment is suffered by people whose field of activity involves constant hard physical work, which is why the lower back hurts in men. According to people, the disease is called "low back pain". It usually stops on its own with rest or after a few days. However, it can easily take up to a month, so it requires at least home treatment for back pain.
Sharp and severe girdle pain in the lower back also occurs when the intervertebral discs are moved. The disease can be caused by various injuries, hard physical work or a disease such as osteochondrosis. You will not be able to undergo medical treatment at home. Hospitalization and full diagnostics are required. It can even go as far as surgery.
Intense pain
Severe pains differ from acute pains in that they are more prolonged in nature and are the result of some type of disease associated with the musculoskeletal system. These include sciatica and osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine. With them, pain in the girdle in the lower back is felt when sneezing, coughing, sitting, walking, in a word, the back hurts during any movement. Also, pain can be given to the lower limbs and they can even become numb. Here it is no longer necessary to run, but to fly to the attending physician for an examination.
In pain
As a rule, the back can hurt due to a strong tension of the spinal muscles. You can relieve low back pain by simply resting for a couple of hours. But you shouldn't fly in the clouds, you need to be alert, as your back can hurt from severe hypothermia. Therefore, a more chronic disease than myositis can develop, in which the psoas muscles become inflamed. In this case, several days of rest are needed, as well as knowing how to remove the pain.
chronic
Often caused by deforming spondylosis. The main symptoms of this disease are girdle pain in the lower back that radiates to the buttocks or legs. Numbness of the lower limbs may also occur. Other diseases that cause similar symptoms include: cancer, impaired metabolism, ankylosing spondylitis.
moved
Such painful sensations are not the result of a back disease, but the result of a disease of some organ that enters the dorsal region. This includes diseases of the pelvic organs of both the male and female halves, as well as diseases of the colon, kidneys, pancreas and various types of tumors.
How is the treatment carried out?
So, how to get rid of low back pain? First, you should go to the hospital and make an appointment with a specialist for an examination. After the exam, your doctor should send you an exam to confirm or deny the diagnosis they suspect. To find out what it might be, you may be sent for a spine X-ray. Today, a more advanced method is used, called myelography.
This method allows you to examine in detail the pathways leading to the spinal cord. It reveals all pathologies in the presence of a decrease in the patency of the pathways. It is worth knowing that before the x-ray you will be injected into the spinal cord with a syringe with a xenon substance, which will highlight everything in the image. This method is quite expensive, but very effective, and it almost always helps to find out why your back hurts. In addition, MRI, ultrasound, ECG and CT may be prescribed. In other cases, other tests may be needed, such as a complete blood count, etc.
Drug
In most cases, medications are great for back pain. It is aimed at relieving pain, eliminating and further preventing inflammatory processes, improving blood circulation and renewing damaged tissues. So, after learning why the lower back hurts, we can get an overall picture of how to treat lower back pain.
Conventionally, all treatment can be divided into 3 phases, namely: the beginning of the treatment, the treatment itself and the end of the therapy. At each stage, drugs can act as a dropper, as well as in the form of blocks and injections. Treatment of low back pain in the first stage should eliminate the pain itself, reduce swelling and inflammation, relieve spasms and relax the muscles. At the second stage, it is necessary to completely eliminate the cause of the disease. Here, the treatment is mainly done locally. Ointments, compresses mixes are used. Also, physiotherapy is recommended.
The third stage consists of injections, which increase the regeneration of damaged tissues and feed them with all the necessary components. Thus, the full functionality of the segment is restored. At all stages, the choice of drug and therapy depends on the diagnosis and the choice of the attending physician. Self-medication is strongly discouraged.
Physiotherapy
When the cause of the pain is precisely identified, treatment can be resorted to using physiotherapy methods. Based on their reasons, the following methods of treatment can be distinguished:
- Ultrasound.
- Laser therapy.
- Exposure to electric current, etc.
Physical therapy is more focused on how to treat back pain in the early stages. In the later stages of the disease, it can be recommended as an auxiliary treatment method. The therapy you need is prescribed only by the attending physician after the examination.
Surgical intervention
In the vast majority of cases, back pain does not require surgery. However, if you have had pain for a long time and over time they get worse and you categorically refuse to see a doctor, then this method of treatment is also possible. In this case, most likely, general anesthesia will be used, in which a lytic mixture is used, in order to completely immobilize the patient. The operation plan itself will be developed by the surgeon on the basis of the diagnostic data.
Folk methods
To the question "How to relieve back pain? " Even traditional medicine can answer. Here, depending on how strong the pain symptoms are, various homemade ointments, lotions, etc. can be used. The main goal of such remedies is to relieve pain and inflammation. In most cases, the treatment of the lower back with folk remedies is justified only as first aid. With prolonged self-medication, without knowing the root cause of pain, the disease can be significantly aggravated. Next, some folk remedies.
- A compress of grated horseradish and radish mixed with sour cream is placed on the painful area of the lower back. From above, all this is covered with a paper napkin, and the entire lower back is tied with a scarf. Such a compress perfectly eliminates pain symptoms and removes muscle spasms.
- When your back hurts, hot compresses from an infusion prepared from a mixture of medicinal lesions will help. This includes thyme, chamomile, St. John's wort, and black elderberry. The compress is applied at night. The affected area is wrapped in a warm cloth. It is recommended to carry out the treatment at night. An identical compress is prepared from an infusion of dried burdock leaves.
- Another treatment with folk remedies is based on the healing properties of horse chestnut. First you need to grind the chestnut into powder. Then it is mixed with camphor oil and melted lard. The ingredients are given in approximately the same amount. The resulting ointment is spread on a slice of black bread and applied to the sore back like a compress. Such a remedy can improve blood circulation, has nutritional and anti-inflammatory properties.
But remember, no matter how well the folk remedy shows itself, it is still necessary to consult a doctor. After all, self-medication is always carried out at your own risk. In addition, it may turn out that the treatment procedures bring only short-term relief, after which the pain will sometimes intensify.
Prophylaxis
When the back hurts in the lumbar region, it is too late to engage in prevention. But in order not to face such a problem for as long as possible, you need to think about how to prevent it and what leads to it? It has already been described above that people who lead sedentary or sedentary lifestyles, athletes, especially weightlifters and overweight people, are at risk.
As a result, the best prevention of the disease will consist of mandatory morning, sports, therapeutic exercises, reduction of the load on the back, massage, nutritional control, etc. Also, to remove what may be causing back pain, scheduled periodic checkups with your doctor will help.
First aid
What to do if the lower back hurts a lot and is far to get to the hospital? How to quickly relieve back pain to wait for the doctor? To do this, you need to know some first aid methods. Of course, they will not have a healing effect, but they will help to cope with pain. So, we do everything in stages:
- We lie on our backs, on a hard bed or on the floor. The blanket must be removed from the bed.
- At the same time, the legs are raised and bent at the knees. For added convenience, place a pillow or rolled blanket under your raised legs.
- We take the usual dose of the pain reliever or anti-inflammatory drug we have.
- We lie down and try not to make sudden movements.
- During the procedure, don't forget to call a doctor at home.
- In most cases, you will need rest and bed rest for the next few days. After your doctor's visit, call work and notify your supervisor.
- Try to avoid spicy and smoked foods during and after treatment.